Variable mold for forming cork insulation



Nov. 7, 1950 v. w. YOST VARIABLE MOLD FOR FORMING CORK INSULATION Filed Dec. l9. 1945 r1, & li

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 VARIABLE Morin Foa Fogli/mvo. conn msllLAfrroN y i vincent William Yosaill'ynweea, Calif. Application December is, ieisgserial No. 635,978

This invention relates to a variable mold for forming semi-cylindrical sections of lagging and the like, such as is employed for covering steam pipes or other conduits conducting heated or cooled fluids.

In the construction of such lagging it has been found expedient to assemble together a plurality of cork lagging strips or lags. These lags may be coated on their contiguous sides with asphaltum or a similar adhesive and are assembled form to the external radius of curvature of the pipe or conduit that is to be insulated and as there are a multitude of sizes of pipes or conduits that may require insulation a corresponding number of different sizes of molds or shaping devices on which the lags might be assembled would ordinarily be required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a variable mold or forming device on which lags of insulating material may be assembled and which is so designed that it may be easily and quickly varied or adjusted to present a radius of curvature conforming to any ordinary sizes of pipe that is to be insulated. Thus, for a given size of pipe the mold or forming device vmay be adjusted to conform thereto and the lags assembled together about the mold or forming device to produce a semi-cylindrical lagging section that will properly t the pipe.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a mold or forming device comprising a table-like support adjacent which clamping means is provided for removably clamping a plurality of mold formers and to provide a flexible mold wall that can be drawn over the mold formers and given the radius of curvature required to conform to the pipe that is to be insulated. As the mold formers are removable and replaceable and the flexible mold wall can be flexed to conform to any ordinary size of former the same mold may be used for all sizes by merely replacing the mold formers to conform to any given size or shape. In this manner, only a relatively small number of mold formers need be made and kept on hand to enable the mold to be adjusted to shape the lagging to fit all pipe sizes. c

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had tothe s claims. (ol. 15454-275 accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a topplan View of the improved variable mold embodying the present invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front View in elevation of the improved variable mold, parts being broken away and shown in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken sub.- stantially upon the line 3 3 upon Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 aresectionalv views taken upon the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively,v on Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved mold; is supported on a suitable supporting structure such as a table or bench I0. On this table or bench suitable rails II and I2 are secured which extend rearwardly from adjacent the forward panion angles I3. between vwhich are receivable semi-circular mold formers I4. The number of fthesemold formers employed is illustrated as being c three, this being ordinarily sufficient to support ,the flexible mold wall I5 when ordinary lengths of lagging are used to form the semi-cylindrical insulation section. In shorter molds two of lsuch mold formers may suce and in longer molds ternal radius of the pipe to be covered. The mold formers lli are held between the companion angles I3 such as by thumb screws .IB which enableV the mold formers to be readily detached vand replaced by another set of mold formers having radii of curvature conforming to the radius of another size or shape. The eXibley mold wall i5 is formed of ya section of flexible sheet metal having its rear end suitably anchored as at I1 betweena pair of angle irons that extend between the rails II and I2 and which have their ends slidable in the rails as illustrated in Fig, 54. These angle irons which cooperate to form a .cross bar are adjusted along theA lengths ofthe rails Il and I2 Ato position the rear end of the iieXible mold wall i5 against the rear sidesor edges of the mold formers I4. The flexiblemold wall can then be drawn snugly around the mold formers and down across the forward edge of the table or bench I0 and maintained in this taut condition such as by -a spring I8. Although the wall I5 is formed of lexible sheet metal and Vis supported by the mold formers at only three cylindrical lagging section. A section of fabric vphaltum or similar adhesive.

indicated at I9 may also be fastened to the'cross bar formed by the angle irons I1. This section of fabric is adapted to be moistened with water and drawn about the ilexible mold wall I5 so as to overlie it. Another angle iron indicated at v2li extends between the rails II and I2 and is disposed rearwardly of the cross bar Il. This'angle iron is slidable on the rails and is adapted to be moved toward the lcross Vbar I1 to hold the lowermost rear lag L in position against the rear side of the mold. This angle iron may be held in any adjusted position such as by thumb screws ZI.

The operation and advantages of the-abovedescribed construction are as follows: If it 'is desired to produce lagging for a given size or shape, mold `formers I4 corresponding to that Size are selected and are installed between the companion angles I3 by means of the thumb screws I 6. The flexible sheet metal mold wall I5 is then drawn snugly about the mold formers and maintained in this taut condition by the spring I8,V thus developing a surface whose curvature corresponds to the curvature of the pipe to be insulated. The fabric I9 is moistened with water and is drawn thereover. The lags L formed of insulating material such as corkboard are then coated on their radial sides with as'- The first lag is positioned on the horizontal ilanges ofy cross bars or angles II and 20 and succeeding lags arev built up thereon. As Yeach succeeding lag is applied to the mold wooden skewers S may be driventhr'ough anapplied lagA into the last previous lag that is applied to the mold. The asphaltum quickly cools and hardens binding the lags together. If desired, the Vuse of skewers or their equivalent may be omitted but they are ordinarily preferably employed. Some ofthe asphaltum usually seeps from or is squeezed from between the opposed radial faces of adjacent lags. This asphaltum is kept from sticking to the mold by the water-moistened fabric. When the section has been completed bythe assembly.

of all of' the lags required for a semi-cylindrical section the entire section may .be removed from the' mold. The lags L will of course not ordinarily have their inner and outer faces shaped to conform to the inner and outer radii of the lagging section and after the semi-cylindrical section is formed as above-described it may be and frequently it is desirable to trim it to conform to a true semi-cylinder. For this purpose a trimming machine such as is disclosed in my c'ropending application Serial No. 635,979 illed December 19, 1945 maybe employed.

Whenever occasion requires the formation of lagging having a different radius of curvature the moldformers I4 are removed and are replaced -by another set rof mold formers having the required radius of curvature. The bars II and 20 are adjusted on the rails to adopt these mold. formers which are so positioned as to be substantially ilush with the forward edge of the bench. When the flexible mold wall I5 is drawn thereover any excess of this section of flexible sheet Vmetal is merely drawn down across the forward face of the bench I0.

Y squeezed out from between the lags merely serves to adhesively fasten the felt liner in position on the interior of the lagging section.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit land scope of they `invention as defined Aby the appended claims.

I. A variable mold for forming semi-cylindrical sections of insulation and the like comprising means providing a pair of spaced rails, means for removably holding a plurality of mold formers in. alignment between the rails, a lexible ,mold wall, means for adjusting one edge of the mold wall along the lengths of the rails, said Y flexible mold wall being adapted to be drawn From the above-described construction it willV Y be appreciated that an improved variable mold is provided for forming semi-cylindrical lagging sections and the like which is adjustable to form sections of various sizes. In making the adjustment it is merely necessary to replace the mold formers I4 to conform to the size of the particular pipe that is to be covered. Consequently,

over the mold formers, means for holding the flexible mold wall in drawn position, and a cross bar slidable on the rails for holding a lag against lcircular mold former, replaceable mold formers receivable therein and adapted to be held thereby in alignment, a flexible mold wall, means for holding one edge of the wall for adjustment tof ward-and away from the clamps so thai-the mentioned edgemay" be positioned against one side of each of the mold formers and the Wall may be drawn about the semi-circulark edges of the mold formers to form a semi-cylinder of variable size depending upon the size of the mold formers employed and over which the material used to form the objects vmay be positioned.

3. A variable mold for lforming semi-cylindricalobjects comprising a plurality of clamps each of which is adapted to receive and hold a semicircular mold former, replaceable mold formers receivable therein and adapted to be held thereby in alignment, a flexible mold wall, means for holding one edge of the wall for adjustment toward and away from the clamps so that the mentioned edge may be positioned against one side of each of the mold formers and the wall may be drawn about the semi-circular edges of the mold formers to form a semi-cylinder of vari able size depending upon the size of the mold formers employed and over which the material used to form the objects may be positioned, and means for Vholding the mold wall taut about the mold formers.

' VINCENT WILLIAM YOST.

REFERENCES rCITED j The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 879,662 MOI'IS Q s Feb. 18, 1908 1,087,806 Miller Feb. 17, 19111 1,171,316 cambun Feb. s, 1916 1,698,242 SaVa NOV; 23, 1925 1,737,885 Hirschman Dec. 3, 1929 

